Chapter 403

2-in-1 chapter:  

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“And you’re a Quincy I’ve seen before.”

Kaelith’s smile disappeared as he stared at Zangetsu.

“Yhwach.”

“I didn’t expect that you left behind a fragment of yourself inside Ichigo.”

“What is this—some kind of soul vessel?”

“Is it that, after your main body dies, you can use this power to revive through Ichigo?”

Unaware of the events in the latter stages of the Thousand-Year Blood War, Kaelith could only assume the worst upon facing this sudden “Yhwach.”

As he spoke, multicolored light began flashing over his body.

If the true form of Zangetsu was indeed a fragment Yhwach left in Ichigo—something like a soul vessel—then Kaelith wouldn’t hesitate to erase him from existence before he could grow.

Seeing the unmasked killing intent on Kaelith’s face, Zangetsu remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke:

“Kaelith… you nurtured Ichigo, helped him grow, and even staged this whole performance to strengthen him—wasn’t it all to make him your weapon in the battle against Yhwach?”

“If so, I suggest you don’t act rashly against me.”

“You’re not wrong. I am a fragment of Yhwach’s power.”

“But at the same time, I’m the source of Ichigo’s Quincy abilities.”

“If you kill me, Ichigo will lose his Quincy powers…”

“To face Yhwach on equal ground, he must possess all four forces: Shinigami, Hollow, Quincy, and Fullbring.”

“Just like you do now.”

“If you eliminate me and Ichigo loses his Quincy abilities, then the complete puzzle will have a missing piece.”

“At that point, in the fight against Yhwach, Ichigo won’t be able to help you at all… at best, he’ll be a high-level Sternritter.”

“When you weigh the risks, killing me is clearly the unwise choice.”

Hearing this, Kaelith rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Then, under Zangetsu’s gaze, he slowly raised his hand and pointed at him from a distance.

“So that’s it—those were your last words?”

Seeing Kaelith’s motion, Zangetsu’s expression turned shocked:

“Kaelith… what are you doing?! Don’t you need Ichigo’s power?!”

Kaelith grinned.

“Idiot. The fact that you’d even ask that shows you’re just a dumb villain.”

“Remember this—we protagonists always put love, courage, and our comrades first!”

“If I can’t defeat Yhwach, I’ll keep searching for new power… or even take him down with me.”

“But if winning means turning a blind eye to something like you potentially harming those close to me—then that’s absolutely out of the question!”

Saying this, multicolored energy surged from his palm—he was about to crush Zangetsu then and there.

Seeing he truly meant to act, Zangetsu hurriedly shouted:

“Wait! What I said earlier was a lie—a test!”

Kaelith paused, surprised.

Looking at Zangetsu, who didn’t seem to be joking, he slowly lowered his hand, his expression now uncertain.

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As Zangetsu slowly explained everything he knew, Kaelith’s expression gradually shifted to realization.

At last, he fully understood the situation regarding Ichigo’s inner powers.

Zangetsu was indeed a fragment of Yhwach’s power.

But he was fundamentally different from the real Yhwach.

Unlike the real Yhwach—who was obsessed with resurrection and vengeance against the Soul Society through the Wandenreich—this fragment had a far simpler goal.

He just wanted Ichigo to live.

As long as Ichigo could stay alive, free from shackles, and always be happy—that alone was enough for him.

Previously, he had stopped Ichigo from becoming a Shinigami and hindered his growth, simply because he wanted to keep Ichigo’s battles limited to a lower tier.

That way, even if Ichigo ever faced a foe he couldn’t handle, he could temporarily lend him power for a comeback.

But if Ichigo ever reached the realm Kaelith was in—a domain that surpassed all limits—then what little help he could offer would vanish.

And at that point, whether Ichigo faced an overwhelming enemy or was targeted by higher beings, he could only stand by helplessly.

After finishing his explanation, Zangetsu stared closely at the man before him.

“Kaelith… can you promise that, when Ichigo faces his final crisis, you’ll be willing to risk your life to protect him?”

Kaelith grinned.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“‘Risk my life’?”

“That phrase doesn’t even apply to me.”

“Anyone who dares lay a hand on the Soul Society… on the people close to me—I’ll drown them like a frog in a toilet!”

“Whether it’s Yhwach or anyone else!”

Looking at this man with his arms crossed, radiating raw confidence, Zangetsu fell silent for a few seconds.

Then he gave a bitter smile and slowly shook his head.

“I understand.”

“In that case, Kaelith—let me see just how far you can go.”

“If one day… you really become that one who stands above the heavens, remember what you said today. Take care of Ichigo.”

As he spoke, Zangetsu slowly stepped back.

His figure gradually faded into the air.

The next second, Kaelith’s consciousness returned to reality.

Under his gaze, Ichigo’s body suddenly erupted with terrifying spiritual pressure.

Power that had surpassed the limits of a Shinigami—stepping into a whole new dimension!

Ichigo was visibly shocked.

Even Aizen, who was fighting him, looked surprised.

One had suddenly awakened new strength and swung a slash.

The other, caught off guard, didn’t have time to raise his own power and took the blow head-on.

The two clashed in mid-air, spinning into each other like twin firecrackers lit at the same time, bursting into an enormous flare of light.

Kaelith couldn’t help but laugh.

But the captains on the ground weren’t nearly as amused.

The spiritual barrier they had erected was now covered in cracks under this overwhelming pressure—it looked like it wouldn’t last much longer.

At that moment, the captains were shocked to see the Arrancar had somehow gathered beneath the barrier, raising their hands to inject their own energy—helping to maintain it.

Seeing this, most of the captains (excluding Kaelith’s faction) wore expressions of disbelief.

They had put up the barrier to protect ordinary Shinigami.

The Arrancar had no reason to protect regular Hollows. Not a single Menos would do such a thing.

Their assistance could only mean one thing: they wanted to help protect the Soul Reapers.

The absurdity of the scene made several captains nearly drop their jaws.

Under everyone’s gaze, Stark—representing the Arrancar—sighed.

“Don’t look at me like that… I don’t want to help you Shinigami either.”

“Everything we’re doing… is only because it’s Lord Kaelith’s orders.”

Hearing Stark’s words, the captains looked at each other in astonishment.

Among them, Hirako Shinji’s expression was particularly complex.

Though always opposed to Kaelith’s camp, even he believed the Arrancar’s words.

Seeing the Arrancar willing to help, he, too, let out a breath of relief.

With their addition, the barrier’s strength increased significantly.

What had once been riddled with cracks now became solid once more.

But in the sky, the explosion of spiritual pressure still raged on.

The barrier, just restored, again began to waver.

At that moment, a large hand suddenly reached up and held the sagging barrier.

This time, it stopped sinking.

Instantly, all the cracks vanished.

The previously uneven barrier reshaped itself into a perfect hemisphere, covering everyone beneath it.

Seeing the newly arrived figure, Baraggan clicked his tongue.

A white haori. A long white beard…

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

Though aged, he still stood tall—upholding the shelter with one hand, unwavering.

At last, the battle above came to a close.

Ichigo, now empowered, slashed at Aizen.

Naturally, Aizen didn’t fear a junior who had just entered a transcendent state—he raised Kyōka Suigetsu and countered with a slash of his own.

Just as their powers were about to collide—an impact that could destroy half of Seireitei—Kaelith dropped into their midst.

Under the stunned gazes of both Aizen and Ichigo, Kaelith smiled and spread his arms, catching the edges of both blades in his hands.

Although both combatants immediately tried to pull their power back, at least seventy percent of it still surged through the blades into Kaelith’s body.

Seeing this, Yamamoto’s expression turned grim.

Among all present, as the strongest beneath the transcendent realm, he understood better than anyone how terrifying that exchange of blows had been.

No matter how strong his wayward disciple was, taking that head-on would cost him dearly.

Under everyone’s gaze, a brilliant light filled the battlefield.

……

…

No one knew how much time passed before Ichigo slowly opened his eyes.

What greeted him was an unfamiliar ceiling.

He frowned slightly and tried to sit up, but a wave of pain pulled him back down.

“Ah, Kurosaki-san, you’re awake!”

A voice rang out nearby.

Ichigo turned his head and saw a gentle-looking young boy staring at him with surprise and delight.

“You are…”

“Ah, sorry, sorry! Let me introduce myself. I’m Yamada Hanatarō, Seventh Seat of the Fourth Division—assigned to take care of your health!”

“Ah… you were really badly injured before. It’s truly great that you’ve regained consciousness so quickly.”

“Oh—almost forgot, here’s some water… would you like to drink a little?”

Hanatarō Yamada hurriedly brought over a glass of water and handed it to Ichigo.

Ichigo reached out and took it.

Looking at the boy in front of him, he asked with some confusion:

“Hanatarō… how long was I asleep?”

“Kurosaki-san, you’ve been sleeping for three days.”

“Three days, huh… What happened after that? What about Mr. Kaelith?”

Under Ichigo’s gaze, Hanatarō helped him sit up and placed a pillow behind his back.

Then, smiling, he began to recount what had happened that day.

After taking both Ichigo and Aizen’s attacks barehanded, Kaelith had risen fast—and fallen faster—collapsing to the ground on the spot.

The two who attacked him, having desperately tried to withdraw their power mid-blow, also suffered significant backlash and lost consciousness temporarily.

Just as everyone was preparing to rush in to provide aid, Kaelith slowly sat back up.

Under the shocked stares of the crowd, Kaelith declared that the entire battle had been a simulation.

Effective immediately, all combatants were to cease fighting.

The Arrancar, along with the Hollows, would return to Hueco Mundo.

Everyone else was to be treated based on the severity of their injuries.

Then, he reached out and grabbed the unconscious Ichigo lying to the side:

“This brat is Isshin’s son, of the Shiba bloodline—not some wandering ryoka. Have Squad Four look after him properly. If anyone dares mess with him, I’ll boil them for stew.”

Hearing that the orange-haired kid was the son of Captain Shiba Isshin, everyone was shocked.

This young ryoka was actually the heir of a Shiba branch family!

No wonder he was so freakishly powerful at such a young age.

Then, Kaelith looked at Yamamoto.

“Sensei, watch over my body carefully. Don’t let it get groped by some perverts.”

After saying that, Kaelith gave a smug smile and collapsed with a thud.

Incidentally, the very next morning, the guy was already out and about, full of energy.

Aizen woke up that afternoon.

Only Ichigo had slept a full three days straight.

Hearing that everyone was safe and sound, Ichigo finally let out a breath of relief.

Sitting up on the futon, he fell into deep thought.

First off, he had definitely been played hard by Kaelith this time.

But… strangely, he wasn’t even that mad.

On one hand, it was better that no one had been seriously hurt.

On the other, this trip to Soul Society had introduced him to a lot of new people—and new encounters.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned to Hanatarō Yamada:

“Wait, Hanatarō… just now, what did you say Kaelith called my old man?”

“Hm? Kurosaki-san’s father? Lord Shiba Isshin, of course.”

Hanatarō blinked:

“One of the five noble families of Soul Society—the head of the Shiba branch house, Lord Shiba Isshin!”

“Is there… something wrong with that?”

Hanatarō asked, clearly confused.

“There’s a lot wrong with that…”

Ichigo was suddenly wide awake and grabbed Hanatarō to press for details about the Shiba family.

After getting all the answers, Ichigo couldn’t help but feel like he’d just been hit with a Komamura-level headache.

That damn old man of his… had been hiding things deep!

Clearly, he was managing an entire noble household in Soul Society, yet he always complained about declining hospital income and used that as an excuse to cut Ichigo’s allowance…

His blood pressure spiked.

Stretching his body to confirm there were no lingering issues, Ichigo stepped out for a walk.

But the moment he exited the room, he saw Shiba Kaien sitting outside.

“Kaien?”

Seeing Ichigo emerge, Shiba Kaien’s eyes lit up.

“Yo, Ichigo—how’s the recovery?”

“Pretty good. Nothing serious.”

Ichigo nodded.

Hearing that, Kaien nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and asked:

“Right, Ichigo—where are you headed?”

“I was just going for a walk. Clear my head a little.”

Smack!

Just as Ichigo finished speaking, he was stunned to see Kaien reach out and grab his wrist.

Kaien grinned, revealing a strangely eerie smile:

“You can’t leave, Ichigo.”

“If you want to go, then have Uncle Isshin come and take your place… heh heh heh.”

Seeing the shadows forming on Kaien’s face, Ichigo had a strong feeling…

His old man was about to have a very bad day.

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